Aryna Sabalenka is the Australian Open champion once again. Sabalenka beat Zheng Qinwen in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) to claim her second consecutive title in Melbourne.
Sabalenka has been on a tear during the 2024 Australian Open, making her way to the finals without losing a single set. Qinwen put up a great effort to stop Sabalenka’s dominant run, but even she proved powerless against the Belarusian’s powerful serve.
Sabalenka is the first woman to win back-to-back Australian Open titles since her compatriot Victoria Azarenka did it in 2012 and 2013.
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka praised Qinwen while saying that she is happy to add another Grand Slam title to her collection.
“[Zheng is] a great player and very tough opponent. I’m super happy that I was able to get this win today,” Sabalenka said. “I wanted to show that I’m able to be consistently there and I’m able to win another [Grand Slam]. I really hope that [I can win] more than two right now, but for me was really important.
Sabalenka has further solidified her status as one of the best tennis players in the world. It came after a strong run in 2023, which saw her win the Australian Open, play in the US Open finals, and reach the semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. The 25-year-old player will remain the world’s No. 2 player, but if she continues to play like this, it is only a matter of time before she replaces Iga Swiatek at the top.
